Wednesday's weather forecast: warm with showers. A good day for the flowers, in other words, but maybe not for a walk to school.

Too bad. Wednesday is International Walk to School Day, an annual effort to promote exercise and gasoline-free commuting for kids. Even if you do not hoof it to class on this particular day, the principle is the right one.

Walking promotes good health. It gets children outside. And it's a social activity, whether kids are part of a "walking school bus" or bump into friends close to school.

Several schools in this area already promote walking, and we hope more get on this path. A big part of this, too, involves the community, from investing in sidewalks to drivers being more aware of little ones who are crossing streets.

Parents should see that their children set out on foot, and turn it into a habit.